Scottish Executive

Economy

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to objective 4, target 6 of the Enterprise and Lifelong Learning chapter of its Draft Budget 2004-05 , which quartile of Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries Scotland's gap in unemployment rates between the worst 10% of areas and the average falls into; what these gaps are, and how the gaps have changed in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Mr Jim Wallace: 1. It is not possible to make an international comparison on this measure.

  2. Difference in unemployment rates between the worst 10% of areas and the Scottish average over the last three years is:

  

 Year
 Gap 
  in Unemployment Between Worst 10% and the Scottish Average
 Change 
  in Gap from Previous Year


 2000
 5%
 -2%


 2001
 5%
 0%


 2002
 5%
 0%



  Note: 2002 is the most recent year this data is available.

Education

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Special Education Needs Advisory Forum will be re-established with a new remit and, if so, what the remit will be.

Peter Peacock: The Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Bill, which was introduced into Parliament on 28 October, proposes a new legislative framework for support for learning which extends beyond special educational needs. The Special Educational Needs Forum, as constituted, was not equipped to address this new framework.

  We have established a new advisory group, supported by officials from the Scottish Executive, which will develop a strategy for implementation of the bill. This will include sub-groups which will involve stakeholders from across the spectrum of additional support needs. We will announce further details about the strategy in early 2004.

Education

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive why the Special Educational Needs Advisory Forum was not given the task of being a reference group for legislation covering special educational needs such as the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Bill.

Peter Peacock: The Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Bill proposes a new, broader framework for support for learning than that covered by current special educational needs legislation. In the event that the bill is enacted, the Executive will need to involve a wider range of stakeholders than that formerly represented in the Special Educational Needs Advisory Forum.

  We have established an advisory group, supported by officials from the Scottish Executive, which will develop a strategy for implementation of the bill. This group will include sub-groups which will involve stakeholders from across the spectrum of additional support needs. We will announce further details about the strategy in early 2004.

Education

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether a reference group has been established for the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Bill and, if so, what the remit and membership of the group will be and what the reasons are for its position on the matter.

Peter Peacock: An advisory group has been set up to work with the Executive to address operational and implementation issues arising from the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Bill.

  The remit for the group is to (a) advise the team working on the draft bill on operational matters relating to proposals for co-ordinated support plans (CSP), transitions, published information and tribunals; and b) to take forward proposed changes in the draft bill, advise on the practical implications of the bill, review current guidance on special educational needs and manage production of new/revised guidance relating to the proposed new system.

  The group is supported by officials from the Scottish Executive and will develop a strategy for implementation of the bill. This will include sub-groups which will involve stakeholders from across the spectrum of additional support needs. The membership of the main group is:

  

 Name
 Interest


 Rowena Arshad
 Centre for Education for Racial 
  Equality in Scotland


 Steven Bermingham
 Scottish Youth Parliament


 Anna Fowlie
 COSLA


 Louise Hayward
 Department of Educational Studies, 
  University of Glasgow


 Jane Hook
 Scottish Pre-School Play Association,


 Bryan Kirkaldy
 Association of Directors of 
  Education 


 Hugh Mackintosh
 Barnardos Scotland


 Dr Patricia Jackson
 Community Child Health


 Julie-Ann Jamieson
 Careers Scotland


 Veronica Rankin
 EIS (Educational Institute 
  for Scotland)


 Caroline Selkirk
 Child Health Commissioners 
  Network


 Sheena Swinhoe
 Association of Directors of 
  Social Work


 Shirley Young
 Special Needs Information Point, 
  (Parents’ Support Group)

Elderly People

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will supply carbon monoxide detectors, smoke detectors and cold alarms free to all pensioners.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: We provide carbon monoxide detectors, smoke detectors and cold alarms free to all recipients of the central heating programme. We do not have any plans at present to extend this beyond the scope of the programme.

Enterprise

Maureen Macmillan (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S2W-3355, S2W-3356, S2W-3357, S2W-3358, S2W-3360, S2W-3361, S2W-3362, S2W-3363 and S2W-3364 by Mr Jim Wallace on 10 November 2003 and S2W-3965 by Mr Jim Wallace on 20 November 2003, to whom the board of Highlands and Islands Enterprise is accountable for matters regarding its supply partner proposal and whether the Executive will write to Highlands and Islands Enterprise with regard to the matters raised.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Board of Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) is responsible to Scottish ministers for ensuring efficient and effective use of resources throughout that organisation. A management statement for which the Scottish Executive is responsible sets out, among other matters, requirements in respect of procurement. As the previous answers stated, it is then for HIE to meet these requirements in its day to day operations.

  The Scottish Executive has no plans to write to the board of HIE in relation to supply partners. The Chief Executive of HIE recently wrote to all MSPs within the HIE area fully explaining the reasons behind this business delivery initiative.

Enterprise

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it, and each of its agencies, have committed to the implementation of the Falkirk Action Plan in (a) 2002, (b) 2003 and (c) each of the next three years.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Scottish Executive does not directly fund the Falkirk Action Plan. The Falkirk Action Plan was launched in December 2002 with three principal partners: Scottish Enterprise Forth Valley, Falkirk Council and BP. The detail of Scottish Enterprise’s involvement is an operational matter for that organisation.

Enterprise

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review the planned allocations by Scottish Enterprise to Forth Valley Enterprise from 2004-05 to 2006-07.

Mr Jim Wallace: This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise.

Finance

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the presentation of the Scottish share of UK income tax liability was based on payments to income tax collection offices in Scotland or as a proportionate share of total receipts from the UK in last year’s Government Expenditure and Revenues in Scotland report.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Scottish share is based on Inland Revenue statistics on the income tax liabilities of Scottish residents as reported in the Inland Revenue’s Survey of Personal Incomes .

Finance

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the methodology that allocates Scotland’s share of corporation tax revenues will take into account an estimate of Scotland’s share of extra-regio territory in this year’s Government Expenditure and Revenues in Scotland (GERS) report and what the reasons are for its position on the matter.

Mr Andy Kerr: Extra-regio corporation tax is not allocated to Scotland’s share of corporation tax revenues.

  The UK continental shelf is not regarded as part of mainland UK or its constituent countries and therefore it is not possible to attribute a share of the extra-regio corporation tax to Scotland.

  However, GERS considers the effects on the Scottish fiscal position of different assumptions on the allocation of North sea revenues (including North sea corporation tax) in table 8.2 (GERS 2001-2002).

Finance

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the methodology used to calculate Scotland’s revenues from other taxes and royalties will take into account an estimated Scottish share of the extra-regio territory in this year's Government Expenditure and Revenues in Scotland report.

Mr Andy Kerr: North sea revenues do not include other taxes and royalties.

Finance

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has with regard to the locations within Scotland where the 1% sample of national insurance records were taken which were used as a basis for calculating Scotland’s share of social security contributions, as referred to in Government Expenditure and Revenues in Scotland 2000-2001 (GERS).

Mr Andy Kerr: We do not have information available as to the locations within Scotland where the 1% sample was taken. The figures used in GERS were derived by the Office of National Statistics. Specific details of the sample data are not available to the Executive.

Finance

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has estimated the funding that will be lost in matched funding from the block grant when Objective 1 transitional money ends.

Lewis Macdonald: It is too early to predict the outcome of the debate on the future of the European Structural Funds for the Highlands and Islands or anywhere else when the current programmes cease in December 2006. The European Commission’s third cohesion report due to be published early next year will give an indication of the Commission’s thinking ahead of their draft regulations expected next May. Negotiations between member states will take place thereafter and are likely to last at least a year.

  Public sector match funding for structural fund projects comes from the relevant domestic spending programme within the assigned budget. Whatever the future of the funds, public bodies will continue to be able to set their own priorities including allocating money either to match fund projects they sponsor or to fund them outright.

Fire Service

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what remit has been issued to the Accounts Commission for Scotland in respect of verifying the achievements of the Scottish Fire Service prior to, and as a pre-condition of, the full implementation of the pending pay award to firefighters; whether the remit has been published; what consultations took place about the remit with stakeholders in (a) Scotland and (b) Her Majesty's Government; on what date the remit was formally issued, and what the deadline is for completion of the audit.

Hugh Henry: The pay and modernisation agreement signed on 13 June 2003 states that the pay increases payable from 7 November 2003 and 1 July 2004 are subject to:

  "verification by the Audit Commission (England and Wales), the Accounts Commission (Scotland) and Government (Northern Ireland) that the intended benefits (including savings) of the various national changes are being delivered locally."

  The arrangements for the verification process are a matter for the parties to the agreement. However, the Executive has an interest in the outcome because the release of transitional funding by the Executive in support of the implementation of the agreement is conditional on satisfactory verification. The detailed arrangements for the verification process will have to be agreed between Audit Scotland and COSLA and the Executive will assist as necessary. Those discussions are taking full account of arrangements for verification of the agreement elsewhere in the UK.

Forensic Science

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-3412 by Cathy Jamieson on 12 November 2003, whether it was the initial identification of the scene of crime mark or a subsequent verification that was made on less than the standard of 16 points.

Cathy Jamieson: Both the initial identification of the scene of crime mark and the subsequent verification were made on less than the standard of 16 points. As indicated in the answer to question S2W-3412 on 12 November 2003, because of this, the case was referred to the quality assurance manager who confirmed the identification. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Forensic Science

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-3412 by Cathy Jamieson on 12 November 2003, who the two experts were who verified the initial identification made by the fingerprint expert at the Glasgow bureau.

Cathy Jamieson: The bureau submits the verified identification into evidence with details of the experts involved. In the interests of an individual’s right to privacy, however, it is not the practice of the bureau to release publicly the names of individual experts involved in the identification/verification process.

Forestry

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is assessing the risk to trees from sudden oak death, Phytophtora ramorum , and whether any action can be taken to reduce the risk.

Allan Wilson: To date Phytophthora ramorum has been found in the south of England in four species of tree; Southern red oak, Holm oak, beech and Horse chestnut. Research on which species of tree found in the UK were susceptible to the disease was started in August 2001. Results from laboratory tests indicate that red oaks, beech, Sweet chestnut, Sitka spruce and Douglas fir are at greatest risk whilst other species such as our native white oaks are not so susceptible. Other research is also being undertaken on how the disease is spread.

  We have taken precautionary measures with emergency legislation designed to control the disease put in place in May 2002 and these were followed by emergency measures throughout the EU in November 2002.

  In line with EU measures, an intensive survey programme of retail outlets, nurseries, gardens and other established planting areas has been under way since the first UK case in February 2002. There have now been over 300 findings of the disease in the UK, including 24 in Scotland. In Scotland all of the outbreaks have been on horticultural establishments. All four of the cases where infection has been discovered in trees have been at well known historical gardens in the south of England where infection had already been found in ornamental shrubs of the rhododendron family.

  Following the discovery of the disease in trees we are stepping up eradication and containment action. In Scotland staff from the Forestry Commission will shortly begin surveying in woodlands in areas identified as being of high risk from the disease. This will complement the surveys being performed in England and Wales. This survey will be completed by the end of the April 2004 and further action will depend on the findings.

  SEERAD are currently considering what further action it should take with regard to horticultural plants in the light of the findings in trees in the south of England.

Health

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what figures it has for viral and other infections passed to haemophiliacs through contaminated blood products since 1970; how many people were affected by each such virus or other infection, and whether it expects these figures to change.

Malcolm Chisholm: This information is not held centrally.

  The routine screening of blood by the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service for HIV, hepatitis B and C, syphilis and Human T-cell lymphotropic Type 1 (HTLV1) and the viral inactivation undertaken during the manufacture of blood products means that transmission of these particular viruses by blood transfusion should now be very rare.

Health

Campbell Martin (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any review of the way in which stoma appliances are prescribed will ensure that stoma nurses will continue to be responsible for carrying out patient reviews and able to suggest the most appropriate appliance to be used and that patients will continue to be given a selection of appliances to test before deciding which one to have on prescription.

Mr Tom McCabe: The options presented in the consultation document are intended to maintain and improve the provision of a quality service that meets all patients’ needs, no matter which type of appliance they may require.

Prison Service

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what provision there is in the contract to operate HM Prison Kilmarnock for the transfer of prisoners from a public sector prison to the prison.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows:

  Kilmarnock holds short-term and remand prisoners from its catchment area. Long-term prisoners (LTP) from the west of Scotland and a small number of protection prisoners. For this latter group and LTP outwith the catchment area, allocation is from other establishments as places arise.

  Within the contract which is published on the SPS website at www.sps.gov.uk, clause 30 of the Minute of Agreement lays out the escort arrangements.

Prison Service

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what provision is made when prisoners who have caused damage to public property in public sector prisons are transferred to HM Prison Kilmarnock.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  Prisoners who cause damage in any prison may be dealt with under prison rules or by referral to police. If transferred before either of these procedures are completed they may be continued on arrival.

Prison Service

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what lessons have been learned from the experience of HM Prison Kilmarnock.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  Such prisons provide best value for the taxpayer, a source of innovation and a spur to the state sector to become more competitive and experience of contracting for complex public services which will be helpful when negotiating for the two new prisons announced by the Scottish Executive on 5 September 2002.

Prison Service

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what examination and accreditation of health care facilities is undertaken at HM Prison Kilmarnock.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  These include the requirement that the medical care should meet all statutory requirement and standard of the NHS (10.3.1). Also that all medical and nursing staff are appropriately qualified and hold a current registration certificate (10.3.6).

  Health care in HM Prison Kilmarnock is subject to the normal range prison service external scrutiny which includes Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons, the Complaints Commission and visiting committees.

Prison Service

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance it provides to HM Prison Kilmarnock regarding the employment of staff.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows:

  Prisoner Custody Officer certificates are issued by SPS to relevant staff (those who are required to manage prisoners) once they have met the required physical, academic and Disclosure Scotland requirements and completed SPS approved training.

Recycling

Christine May (Central Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of recycling schemes is (a) community-based and (b) corporate-led, broken down by local authority area.

Ross Finnie: The information requested is not held centrally. The Community Recycling Network Scotland is currently carrying out a mapping exercise to identify how many community recycling schemes there are in Scotland as well as the environmental, social and economic impact of them. This work is being supported through the Scottish Executive’s Strategic Waste Fund.

Recycling

Christine May (Central Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage increase in recycling there has been since the introduction of the strategic waste fund.

Ross Finnie: The most recent Accounts Commission figures are for 2001-02. These show that, compared to the previous year, councils increased the amount of household waste that was recycled from 6% to 8%. The Strategic Waste Fund came into operation in the final quarter of 2000-01.

Scottish Enterprise

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the reasons are for the 4% reduction in the planned budget of Scottish Enterprise between 2003-04 and 2005-06 and what budgets will be affected by this reduction.

Mr Jim Wallace: The 2002 spending review provided for an increase in funding to Scottish Enterprise. This involved an increase towards the end of the period to be allocated to skills and learning (although that portion relating to individual learning accounts has subsequently been removed). However, subsequent adjustments have included a number of one-off and short-term items in the first and second years.

  The table shows the net skills and learning increase, the short-term items and the resulting Scottish Enterprise budget baseline when these adjustments are taken into account.

  

 £ Million
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06


 Skills and Learning
 4.5
 9.0
 9.0


 Broadband
 18.0
 -
 -


 Scottish Co-Investment Fund
  6.0
 8.0
 -


 Proof of Concept
  1.0
 -
 -


 Current Spending Plans
 461.2
 448.7
 440.7

Social Justice

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when it next intends to report on its social justice targets and milestones.

Ms Margaret Curran: Social Justice: Indicators of Progress 2003 will be published on Wednesday 17 December 2003.

  This report meets the Programme for Government II commitment of the first Scottish Executive to report annually on our progress in achieving our social justice targets and milestones.

  Copies of the report will be placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 30309). The report is also available on the Scottish Executive’s website at www.scotland.gov.uk.

Voluntary Organisations

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance is provided to voluntary organisations applying for grants under section 10 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-4604 on 12 December 2003. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Waste Management

Christine May (Central Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much money has been allocated under the strategic waste fund since its inception.

Ross Finnie: The strategic waste fund was established in January 2001. Expenditure in previous years and amounts awarded to date for the current and future years are set out in the table.

  

 Year
 Amount Awarded 
  (£)


 2000-01
 3,000,000


 2001-02
 3,290,000


 2002-03
 15,547,898


 2003-04
 26,956,324


 2004-05
 36,283,319


 2005-06
 34,962,254

Waste Management

Christine May (Central Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what schemes, and how many, have been funded by the strategic waste fund.

Ross Finnie: The strategic waste fund was established in January 2001. Twenty one local authorities have received major awards totalling £99,950,000 to 2005-06 to assist the implementation of their area waste plans.

  In addition, in 2000-01, £3 million was distributed between all authorities for recycling and composting schemes. A further £6 million was distributed in 2002-03 for this purpose.

  £1.69 million and £3.3 million were distributed between all local authorities in 2001-02 and 2002-03 respectively to assist local authorities to comply with the Control of Ozone-Depleted Substance Regulations 2002.

  The Scottish Executive also funds waste awareness, market development, community recycling and other schemes directly from the strategic waste fund.